This is the official, not to mention only, web portal in the world dedicated exclusively to the legacy of Jack and Helen Frye!

The Frye Legacy-a Lifetime of Accomplishment!

By Randall Reynolds

The Sedona Legend Web Site is a copyrighted historical photo enhanced narrative presented for educational and entertainment purposes. Some materials may be displayed in regard to the United States Fair Use Act. This web portal is totally non-profit and generates no income nor does it seek or has it ever accepted a single donation. It is an independent venture.

Sedona Legend was envisioned and created to provide Red Rock State Park visitors a comprehensive historic overview for Jack and Helen Frye and their Deer-Lick and Smoke Trail Ranches. This effort is now officially cited by R.R.S.P. as an indepth historical venue representing Jack and Helen Frye.

Sedona Legend is encouraged by the many friends of Jack and Helen Frye. A gracious thank you to the Frye and Varner families for invaluable support and Red Rock State Park staff and volunteers for their enthusiasm.

Donald Frye, founder and director of the copyrighted system of schools which bear his name is a pioneer in the aviation industry. At the age of 10, he was building model airplanes with his brother Jack Frye, who is now head of T.W.A. Airlines. When 24, (1930) Donald Frye had already served 2 years in the U.S. Air Corps and was engaged as a flying instructor for the Guatemala Air Service. Later, in California, he worked in almost every department of the Douglas Aircraft Company. Leaving Douglas, he became personnel manager for Consolidated Aircraft Company. While serving in this capacity for five years, he became aware of the critical shortage of trained aircraft workers. Knowing the needs and requirements of the aircraft manufacturers, Donald Frye organized the Frye Aircraft Company with the sincere purpose of helping American men and women get basic training in aircraft production.

Don's Legacy- "Frye Aircraft Company" Press Release

This website has led me down many paths and to the doors of many remarkable people. When I decided to start a remembrance for Jack and Helen Frye and their association with Sedona Arizona I never dreamed it would lead in so many directions. I came to know Jack's sister Ople who I found to be a rich source of information along with her daughter Pat. Through Ople, I came to realize that Jack had a beloved younger brother, who not only helped him get started in the aviation business, which led to his founding TWA and building it into a World-Wide-Airline, but as well, this brother also had a remarkable career in aviation himself. His name? Patrick Donald Frye. He grew up with Jack in Texas on the family cattle ranch near Wheeler. He and Jack both joined the Army, a path that later led them to California. Don was not only one of the original investors in Aero Corporation, which Jack Frye co-founded, but worked for the company for a time, as well. Born, November 29, 1906, Don was Jack's "younger" brother. For a time he lived with Jack and his first wife, Debbie Greer, in 1920's Los Angeles.

At left Don Frye at an early Burdett Air Show (1924) and to the right his business card early in his career when he worked for his brother Jack Frye who owned Burdett Airport at the time.

A rare early photo of Jack Frye with arm around his beloved brother Don in about 1924 at Burdett Airport, Los Angeles. Both were immersed in the infancy of United States aviation, each forging noteworthy paths. Don, like Jack, was a crack aircraft mechanic and was trained by friend Walt Hamilton who included Don on air show trips, which also included Paul Richter.

The Frye family name stands tall and solid. A beacon in the development of the largest most advanced air transportation network in the world (TWA). And a nationwide school to train men and women to work in the aircraft industry and the war effort. An amazing legacy of dedication and leadership! Please click for indepth information on the here: Frye Aircraft School.

To the left, Frye Aircraft Company at Dallas and Omaha.

Frye Aircraft CompanyDenver and St Louis (aside)

My Brother Don- By "Sunny" Frye Thomas

Patrick Mc Donald Frye- (the "Mc" was Sunny's spelling) 'my brother called Don was born November 29 1906, Wheeler County, Texas. Died, November 4, 1942, in Dallas, Texas. He was married to Marguerite Wilkinson and attended Rock School, Wheeler Jr. High, and Clarendon High School. Don was at 16, one of the youngest pilots in the nation. He held a transport pilots license, barnstormed all over the country, was a stunt flyer and owned a flying circus. At 24, Don served 2 years in the Army Air Corps and was an instructor for Guatemala Air Service. Donald Frye was at one time the Personnel Director, and served in other capacities, for Douglas Aircraft Industries, before becoming Personnel Director for Consolidated Aircraft Corporation. Don realized the critical lack of trained aircraft workers, so he organized and became President of "Frye Aircraft Company- a Copyrighted System of Schools for Basic Training in Aircraft Production." The first facility was located in Kansas City, with others in Omaha, Denver, St. Louis, Dallas, Long Beach, and Salt Lake City. Don's career, of such promise, was ended tragically in a Dallas Hotel, November 4, 1942. He was buried in Wheeler, our dear friend and school principle, Judge R. H. Forrester was the speaker. Don was quiet, sensitive, very bright- a good artist and writer, with an analytical mind. His death- a very useless and sad loss!' -Sunny

Sadly, Sunny Frye Thomas, reigning matriarch of the Frye family, has passed away. This remarkable woman was the very last of Jack Frye's childhood family, a lady who truly knew Jack and Don their entire lives. I am saddened by her death and honored to have been her friend- I adored her as did everyone else in the Frye family. Sunny was a rich wealth of information in regard to the Frye Legacy and a staunch advocate of my work! Bless you Sunny- you are missed! For more information in regard to Sunny and her daughter Pat, see Page 1909.

Frye Brothers- Standing Tall

At The Dawn of Aviation- Don Frye Pilot @ 15 Yrs Old!

Also TWA along with all the major airlines and aircraft companies of the day were customers, as well as participants; instruction, etc. The school was launched pre-Pearl Harbor, so it was not just another war endeavor. After Don's death, it is not known what the fate of the organization was but likely it was phased out after the war.

Sunny loved hanging out at her brother’s airfield which was populated in the 1920’s by a lot of movie people. Walt Hamilton and Don Frye were friends, and it was Walt who taught Don how to be a aircraft mechanic. Walter, Don, and Paul Richter were pals and attended air shows frequently. Donald Frye Marriages:

Don was married twice. The first time to Missouri-born gal named Marguerite E. (Wilkinson?). They were married in 1930, both at 24 years old, (both born in 1906). Sunny Frye really liked Marguerite and said she was very nice. Marguerite and Don met when Don would hang out with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, riding with officers around L.A. in the evenings as a guest. Marguerite was selling cigarettes (maybe at a club) when they met. Sunny remembered that Marguerite’s father was a big-wig in the oil business at Los Angeles. Interestingly, the 1930 census report shows Don working for an oil corporation, as an auditor, and Marguerite as a secretary. Could this have been her father’s company? Very likely. By 1940, Don had remarried to Idaho-born gal, Claire. I notice in the 1940 census Don is listed as being the step-father of Claire’s son, Neil W. Wallis sp (Waller) born about 1936. Don's mother-in-law was living with them (Mabel E. Bergison, born about 1877). They lived at 3262 Cedar Street, in San Diego California. At San Diego, Don was the Personnel Manager for Consolidated Aircraft Corporation, at Lindbergh Field. His wife, Claire, was a telegraph operator for a telegraph sending and receiving concern. Initially, the couple lived in San Diego, and later, Dallas Texas, where Don launched the Frye Aircraft Company, which had divisions in many states.

Death and Aftermath- Don’s married life has been most difficult to nail down. The Frye family seemed to have only sketchy details after 60-some years. Don and his last wife were estranged when he died so this leaves a disconnect. The last time Claire was seen by the family was after Don died. Jack Frye was notified immediately of the death of his brother at which he and Helen undertook an emergency flight to Dallas Texas in Jack’s private plane (NC18137). They picked up Don’s widow and took off again for Wheeler Texas. (Sunny wasn’t clear if they drove her up from Dallas or they flew up). Either way the immediate family gathered at the Frye Ranch and this is the last time they met with Don’s widow. After Jack took care of the details of Don’s death he and Helen flew back to Kansas City or Washington D.C. This was a dark time for Jack Frye. The next time Jack and Helen were in Wheeler was on December 28, 1942 when they landed in their 12A Jr. at Twitty Texas to drop off Jack’s father and stepmother who had been visiting them at Kansas City. This was the nearest airfield to Wheeler Texas at that time. Within 2 days the Fryes were in Santa Fe New Mexico meeting with their architect regarding the design of their proposed home at Sedona Arizona (House of Apache Fires).

Don died at 35 years old (Nov 4, 1942) just 25 days short of his 36th birthday. He never had any children of his own, at least if he did, they are unknown. Because of the tragedy of his death Sunny Frye told me they never stayed in touch with the last wife.

Only brother to TWA's Jack Frye. Ople Sunny Frye Thomas, was the only sister. Son of Dr. William Henry and Mrs. Nellie Cooley Frye. Married twice, Marguerite E. and Claire. No children.

Patrick Donald"Don" Frye

Conclusions and Closure

To left April 7, 1941, Douglas Aircraft Company Inc.... 'Permit me to say a few words in behalf of the Frye Schools. For several years, I have personally known Jack and Don Frye, and I am happy to say that both are fine gentlemen and are doing a splendid job in organizing schools and training personnel for the aircraft industry.....' (Click for higher resolution)

Tom Kuehn was kind enough to share his father's 1942 graduation certificate and fold-over. 'Frye Aircraft School, St. Louis.' Please click on the file to read caption at bottom. I'm sure this will bring back memories for those who were associated as youths and adults.

It has never been clear to me exactly how Frye Aircraft Co. was set up but I think Jack Frye was involved behind the scenes.

Patrick Donald Frye was born in Wheeler Texas, November 29, 1906, of English and Irish ancestors. Experience in aviation since 1922, includes mechanic, pilot, purchasing agent, toolmaker, Jr. Tool Designer and Inspector. Don Frye (1920-1921) broke into aviation at the age of 15, becoming, so far as it is known, the world’s youngest pilot at the time! He took a job as a dishwasher to get started, and became a flying member of the famed Holmoky Flying Circus, stunting clipped winged Spads and Nieuports. Donald Frye worked with Aero Corporation of California, Standard Air Lines, Western Air, the United States Army, Guatemala Air Service, and Douglas Aircraft. Mr. Frye joined Consolidated Aircraft Company as an assistant in 1935, and soon became director, a position he currently holds. Having worked in all phases of the aircraft industry and observed it from all angles, Frye knows the viewpoint of the man seeking work for the first time. Consolidated has many of the finest aircraft craftsmen in the world. We consider ourselves privileged to be associated with, and hire train students from the Frye Aircraft Company.